The US State Department has declined to comment on the court ruling acquitting former President Hosni Mubarak, who was charged with the killing of demonstrators during the January revolution, saying only that it is still discussing the issue with the Egyptian government.
US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said at a news conference in Washington on Tuesday that the United States had expressed concern about the proceedings before and will continue to follow up on any developments.
She also said that Washington is viewing the case in accordance with Egyptian judicial proceedings, adding that she might comment once the result of the prosecution’s appeal is announced.
Asked by a reporter about the US administration’s confidence in the integrity of the Egyptian judicial proceedings, Harf said the administration has had concerns for several months, especially when death sentences were issued against hundreds of citizens.
On a question by another reporter as to how the administration is concerned yet rewards the Egyptian army with military equipment at the same time, Harf said that she would not call it a rewarding. “Washington has a strategic partnership with Egypt that extends to the fight against terrorism,” she explained. “Yet this does not mean that we would not raise concerns about other issues.”
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
